Following a season in which his team came away with the first team state championship in school history, Portland varsity football coach John Novara was recognized by his peers as he was named the 2012 Division 5 coach of the year.

The award, presented by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association, is voted on by the coaches. Novara said he is honored to receive the award, but he couldn’t have won it without the efforts of his players, coaching staff and those who help build the program.

“It’s a great honor,” he said. “We had a good year getting to the state finals and winning it. That puts you on the map.

“It comes down to team success, and that is accomplished by the players, our coaching staff and everyone involved from the varsity level all the way down to the youth program.”

The Raiders completed a 13-1 season with a 12-9 win over Grand Rapids West Catholic in the D5 state championship game at Ford Field on Nov. 23. During their playoff run, they also knocked off defending state champion Flint Powers in the regional final, handing the Chargers their only loss of the season, and ending their 19-game winning streak that dated back to the seventh week of the 2011 season.

Novara was given the award at a banquet following the MHSFCA’s annual coaching clinic following the season. He is the third coach of an Ionia County football team to earn state coach of the year honors in the last two years. Last year Pewamo-Westphalia’s Brad Weber was named Division 7 COY after leading the Pirates to Ford Field and this season Portland St. Patrick coach Pat Russman earned the honor in Division 9 (8-man football).